Fix for Kenner Falcon decals that have dried up and lost their stickiness?

[wav]

After what seemed like forever, I've finally acquired a vintage Kenner Falcon. It's loose, complete with Bespin style box and in very nice condition. I'm still literally bursting inside as I really do feel like a 5 year old again! This was probably my favorite toy across my entire childhood, so the feeling of finally having one again over 35 years later really can't be described.

About half of the decals have already been applied and the rest are on the decal sheet with a few that have fallen off the sheet because over the years the adhesive looks to have dried up or something. If anyone can help with advice on how to apply those dried decals I'd REALLY appreciate it. I just want to be careful and not use any type of adhesive that would damage the stickers or cause anything to happen over time like discolouration. I literally want this to last for the rest of my days and be able to smile whenever I see it on my shelf when I'm well into my 80's. I saw an acid free glue stick at Staples and was thinking of trying that, but I really don't have a clue on what to get.

Even though this this isn't real my actual childhood Falcon (which unfortunately I can never actually have again) it's the closest I'll ever get so I really want to preserve it as best I can and don't even want to imagine the possibility of messing up the decals.

 

[x-pack]

I'm not 100% sure on this but can the glue be reactivated with just a little moisture, say a wipe with a damp cloth?

That's a long shot. Personally I would probably use a couple of dabs of PVA glue. Things not to use would be super glue or other strong toxic glues such as modelling glue. Sellotape is also bad news for use on pretty much anything vintage Star Wars. It yellows, it goes brittle and can damage the surface.

 

[lejackal]

I've been told Prit Stick works well

 

[x-pack]

Sounds a good fix to me. Pritstick

 

[poncho]

pritstick it

 

[Doomseeker]

personally I have used with great success, Spray mount and UHU/Bostik type glues (about £1.50 a tube from the supermarket)

 

[wav]

Hey, thanks for all the responses guys. I really appreciate it!
I'm not familiar with Pritstick. Maybe they aren't sold here in Canada. I did a little looking online and it resembles a UHU Glue stick or Elmer's Glue stick. I'll check around here for Pritt Stick, but has anyone had success with Elmer's or UHU?

 

[lejackal]

Hey, thanks for all the responses guys. I really appreciate it!
I'm not familiar with Pritstick. Maybe they aren't sold here in Canada. I did a little looking online and it resembles a UHU Glue stick or Elmer's Glue stick. I'll check around here for Pritt Stick, but has anyone had success with Elmer's or UHU?

As far as I know they are basically the same thing, just different brands so you should be fine mate

 

[wav]

Just picked up a couple of acid free UHU Sticks. I'm going to do a test run using some of the decal sheet paper that is also dried out... and then I can't wait to FINALLY have a Falcon in my display case!

 

[tiefighterboy]

I use glue sticks for this. No problems at all.

 

[bosk70]

as mentioned in the other subject I've always used prit stick or paper glue equivalent with no problems to fix boxes as well, where they have rips etc, sometimes the sticker may lift again a few years later, but as its not an aggressive glue there is no hardening of the sticker so just stick it down again

 

[wav]

I just want to say thank you to everyone for all the advice and tips. I used an acid free UHU Glue Stick and it all took quite some time to complete, but I really couldn't be happier with the results.

One unexpected benefit of the glue stick is that when you apply the stickers, you can slide it around until you are completely satisfied with its placement and alignment on the vehicle. I really liked this as I recently applied a decal to a snowspeeder upside down and messed up the corner a bit trying to remove it so I could reapply it the correct way.

Anyway, I'm just beaming inside - I'm so excited! Even though I finished this pretty late last night, I just couldn't stop staring at my Falcon!

 

[plantainman]

Use pritstik, but get some PVA glue anyway because it'll remind you of spending design tech lessons peeling it off your palms like skin :mrgreen: